North Yorkshire businesses affected by extreme weather could be able to get financial support from a new fund.
North Yorkshire Council is looking to alter the terms of the Tadcaster and Selby District Business Support Scheme, which was set up in 2022 to help businesses affected by flooding.
The authority wants to change the fund, which is administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation (TRCF), to help companies across the county.
It is also proposed that the fund helps businesses affected by any extreme weather-related event, not just flooding.
The original scheme was established in 2022, when former Selby District Council allocated £122,500.
With demand in the original target area now reduced, more than £43,000 remains unspent.
Adele Wilson-Hope, the council’s East communities area manager, said in a report: “In the meantime, there have been extreme weather-related events across North Yorkshire, including the flooding in Knaresborough and Kirkbymoorside and surrounding area in May and December 2024 respectively.
“In both instances, the National Flood Recovery Framework was triggered providing financial support in the form of grants, rate relief, and property flood resilience measures for residential properties.
“Most notably, in summer of 2025, Fylingdales Moor experienced a large-scale wildfire which went on for a substantial number of weeks, impacting significantly on local communities.
“Although no residential properties were directly affected, the farming and local hospitality sectors have experienced significant losses due to the fire destroying the moorland and associated infrastructure and road closures prohibiting visitors accessing local caravan sites, hotels, cafés and restaurants.”
The officer said there was no national framework in place to financially support areas impacted by wildfires.
She added: “After on-going discussions with TRCF, it is felt that this fund would benefit from a variation so that it can be more flexibly used, and to more accurately reflect demand that has been felt across North Yorkshire in recent years.
“It is proposed that the area of benefit is broadened to include the entirety of North Yorkshire, and that support should be offered to businesses experiencing the impact of any extreme weather-related event.”
It is proposed that the new North Yorkshire Extreme Weather Business Support Scheme would be offered on a rolling programme, as and when extreme weather events occur.
This would be confirmed and triggered by North Yorkshire Council.
Businesses would need to demonstrate damaged property or contents and/or a significant loss of income because of an extreme weather event.
Priority will be given to businesses with a turnover of less than £500,000.
Decisions on the awards will be made by TRCF officers, with all funding decisions ratified by trustees.
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